The Measures & Method of the Holy Spirit

 

Jesus possessed the Holy Spirit without measure. Jn. 3:34-35. He was truly Immanuel, the Mighty God and Everlasting Father as prophesied in Isa. 9:6.

His Apostles possessed the Holy Spirit in a  measure ‘poured’ out upon them. This measure was applied to the 11 plus one,  Matthias on Pentecost, Acts 1:26-2:1-3, 17, for opening the gospel to the Jewish nation dispersed through at least 15 different countries and was clarified in Acts 8:16. This measure was also applied to Cornelius, as the first opening of the gospel to the whole Gentile world, Acts 10:44-45.

The 1st century disciples from all nations possessed the Holy Spirit in a measure ‘laid upon’ them, which was limited to themselves only. Acts 8:18-19. This assisted the Spirit with spreading the gospel throughout the entire globe, Col. 1:6, Ac. 8:39-40. But did not permit the disciples to lay hands upon others and pass the same measure on. Simon could see this limitation in the disciple Philip and knew the apostles had a larger measure, Simon asked Peter the apostle for his measure or power to pass it on, and Peter rebuked him, Acts 8:20-24.

All disciples in becoming Christians, possess the Holy Spirit in a measure ‘given’ to them today and until Jesus comes again. Acts 2:38-39. The Holy Spirit is a promised gift fulfilled in our hearts.

In the context of these different measures of the Spirit of God, what is the mode or method of His work & activity? His speaking historically has been in many different ways, Heb. 1:1, but now he speaks only through Jesus, v2, that is the Spirit of Christ in the Bible.  Jesus clearly promised his apostles that they would be used by The Spirit to testify of Him and God’s will, John 16:1-15.

The Holy Spirit has inspired the Old Testament, 2nd Sam. 23:2, Isa. 59:21 & Ezk. 11:5.  Jesus and his apostles agree with His inspiration of the Old Testament, Mat. 22:42, Acts 1:16, 18:25, 1st Peter 1:10-12. The apostles and prophets in the New Testament repeat the eternal truth of God being in their written word, which we have today, 1st Cor. 2:6-13, Eph. 3:5.  Do you realize who is speaking when you read the Bible? 1st Thes. 2:13. Do we realize who is writing the law of Christ on our heart, when we read, understand and believe? 2nd Cor. 3:3.

The purpose of the 1st century miraculous work of Holy Spirit is to “confirm the word”, Mark 16:20. Once the gospel was confirmed as true and from God, it was forever eternal, and truly doesn’t need to be proven again over and over with so-called new revelations, which many other people talk about today. Our job today is to spread it, defend it and live it, Jude 3. We also need to pray for it to be glorified in the world, 2nd Thes. 3:1-2.

The Holy Spirit’s help can be seen in 2 methods.

1. Indirectly by His Presence with the active Word in our bodies.  John 16:7-15 & Hebrews 4:12, Romans 8:9.  Indirectly with the authority of the apostles, Acts 8:14-18 & 1st Corinthians 13:8-10, the Holy Spirit is helping Christians, but today His power originally in the apostles hands is now within the Scriptures we read. The gospel itself is the power of God, Romans 1:16, this power lives on, in the living and active word, which is used in the Holy Spirit’s teaching today, 1st John 2:20, 24-27.

2. Directly by His Intercessory role in our  practice of prayer. Ephesians 6:18 & Jude 20.

 

This week’s pointer in prayer: Do we pray for God’s Spirit to write His law upon our hearts? Do we pray as we read the Scriptures, for understanding and strength?